Naka directs next-gen Sonic

Sonic the Hedgehog is on its way to next-generation formats as predicted, SEGA announced in Japan today, and should appear on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 next year as part of a wider celebration of Sonic's 15th anniversary.

The game, screenshots of which are clearly reminiscent of the "Sonic next-gen" tech demo shown off at E3 in May, also sees father and Sonic reunited as creator Yuji Naka takes the project reins at Sonic Team. Naka's already been booming about it, claiming, "The 'rebirth of Sonic' will offer an unparalleled sense of speed that is only possible using the processing power afforded by the new systems."

There's no suggestion when exactly during 2006 we can expect to see the new Sonic, simply called Sonic the Hedgehog in press literature, but with any luck SEGA will have some manner of new trailer or better at this year's Tokyo Game Show, which will be with us this time next week, running as it is from September 16th to 18th.